Aldermen are set expand Starkville Police Department’s presence at Synergetics with a $950 monthly lease for two office spaces.
SPD first moved its narcotics unit to the Highway 12 facility in 2006. The proposed agreement before the board today would add the investigations unit to the location while the police department is renovated, Mayor Parker Wiseman said.
“It makes sense to have the investigators located in close proximity to the narcotics unit since they have compatible functions,” he said. “It was always part of the location plan to lease additional space.”
Renovations at SPD’s headquarters — Starkville’s former city hall — are expected to conclude in April.
Free alternative
Former Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Spruill previously offered the city 1,100 square feet of office space on Louisville Street for no rent and no lease, but the board rejected that proposal with a 4-3 vote on June 7.
The only costs associated with the offer were to cover the space’s monthly utility bills.
Officials likened the offer to a $15,000 in-kind donation to the city.
Citing Spruill’s political history, a coalition of aldermen led by Ward 2’s Lisa Wynn defeated the proposal.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.